The Dutch Association of Genetic Counsellors (NVGC)

In September 2002 The Dutch Association of Genetic Counsellors was officially established.
Full membership is open to genetic counsellors who are registered with The Association of Clinical Genetics in The Netherlands.
Associate membership is open to genetic counsellors in training. To start training as a genetic counsellor a post in a department of clinical genetics is mandatory.
Our association has now 43 (associate) members. Several committees are active.

Aims and objectives
The association wants to promote the interests of its members and promote clinical genetics by:
-    providing a forum for education;
-    providing support for professionals in the field;
-    representing the views of the profession;
-    prescribing good standards of clinical practice.

A representative of the association takes part in the meetings of The Association of Clinical Genetics and functions as liaison in improving the collaboration with the clinical and scientific colleagues.

Board
Chairperson
Ms. Beike Leegte
Department of Clinical Genetics
University Hospital Groningen
Postbox 30001
9700 RB Groningen


Secretary
Ms. Anneke van Mil
Department of Clinical Genetics
University Hospital Leiden
Postbox 9600
2300 RC  Leiden


Treasurer
Ms. Anja van Rens
Department of Clinical Genetics
NKI - AvL
Plesmanlaan 121
1066 XZ Amsterdam

History
From 1992 onwards the need for genetic counselling increased and non-medical professionals were employed as counsellors. Different titles were used, such as genetic fieldworker, family researcher and genetic nurse. At the time no formal training existed.
These initial workers developed a profile and the title 'genetic counsellor' was decided upon.
Counsellors may have nursing or other relevant backgrounds.
In co-operation with The Association of Clinical Genetics a national training programme was developed.
The need for professionalisation led to the establishment of our association in 2002.

Recent developments
In 2003 an education committee was formed and negotiations towards establishing a formal Master’s training for genetic counsellors in The Netherlands are in progress.

 Poster ISONG Toronto 2004.doc